India crush Sri Lanka to win Under-19 Asia Cup title

India put on a clinical display in all departments, beating Sri Lanka by a massive 144-run margin to lift the Under-19 Asia Cup 2018 title at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka on Sunday. It was a complete performance by the boys in blue as they scored 304/3 in 50 overs. Chasing 305 in the final of the tournament was never going to be easy and the Sri Lankan youngsters buckled under pressure. Tyagi was the man who absolutely choked them with his superb 6-wicket haul. Although Paranavithana played like a warrior towards the end it wasn’t enough to overhaul the huge score put up by India.

India captain P Simran Singh elected to bat after winning the toss and the batsmen didn’t disappoint as India amassed a total of 304 for three in 50 overs. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Anuj Rawat strung together a 121-run partnership for the first wicket. Both the batsmen notched up half-centuries, laying the foundation for a big total.

Chasing a target of 305, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start. The team lost Nipun Dananjaya (12) early as pacer Mohit Jangra dismissed the Sri Lankan skipper in the seventh over. Opener Nishan Madushka (49) and Pasindu Sooriyabandara (31) tried to steady the Sri Lankan run chase but spin duo Harsh Tyagi and Siddharth Desai ran through the Sri Lankan batting order.

The batsmen seemed clueless against the Indian spinner as Tyagi claimed six wickets for 38 runs. Desai too played his part from the other end, bagging two wickets as the Islanders were bowled out in the 39th over. This was India’s sixth Under-19 Asia Cup title after winning the tournament earlier in 1989, 2003, 2012, 2014 and 2016.